2022 marks milestone year in App State’s 123-year history

U.S. News & World, The Princeton Review, Forbes magazine and Money.com all agree — App State is one of the best higher education institutions in the country, and the Southeast, for 2022–23. App State was recognized for its academics, innovation, benefits for student veterans and other aspects.

App State’s new Bachelor of Science in veterinary technology will prepare students for meaningful employment in the growing veterinary medical profession and lead to career advancement opportunities for those already working in the field.

On March 25, App State ceremoniously broke ground on a long-held goal and a valuable piece of its future — the Innovation District project. Phase one of development includes the Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research, as well as housing for App State faculty and staff.

Dr. Baker Perry, National Geographic Explorer and professor in App State’s Department of Geography and Planning, led a successful return expedition to Mount Everest, coordinating the maintenance of weather stations at the top of the world.

App State’s Alumni Association honored four graduates with 2022 Alumni Awards — recognizing Mark Ricks ’89, June Wilson Hege ’65, John Thomas Roos ’84 and Douglas Middleton Jr. ’15 ’18 for their professional, service and philanthropic accomplishments.

ESPN’s premier college football pregame show — College GameDay — broadcasted live from App State’s campus on Sept. 17. Mountaineer football fans celebrated the occasion with several days worth of fan-fueled events.

Three App State Police officers recently received awards of distinction for outstanding service, valor and lifesaving efforts from the App State Police Department and the University of North Carolina System.

App State’s student-run solar vehicle team, Team Sunergy, secured a second-place finish in the multi-occupant vehicle category of the 2022 American Solar Challenge. The team completed 1,549 miles over the eight-day road race and took home the competition’s Electrical Design Award for the second consecutive year.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards has ranked App State No. 1 in its “Top 50 Alma Maters by Total Number of NBCTs” list for the sixth consecutive year. App State leads the nation for the number of National Board Certified Teachers — 2,211.

Graduates of App State’s Appalachian Police Academy — a component of the Appalachian Police Officer Development Program — enter the criminal justice job market with a college degree, North Carolina law enforcement certification and a minimum of two years of policing experience.

Elected officials and local dignitaries joined App State and Elkin City Schools educators and staff on Aug. 23 to celebrate the opening of App State’s second laboratory school — one of nine operating as part of the University of North Carolina System Laboratory School initiative.

Under a new power provider, App State’s percentage of electricity supplied from renewables will increase from 2% to 18% in early 2022 due to purchases of hydroelectric and solar power.

For more than a decade, App State’s support of military-affiliated students has earned it national recognition from VIQTORY as a Military Friendly School. App State has been named a Military Friendly School with Gold distinction for 2022–23.

2 App State degree programs in the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment — an undergraduate building sciences program and the master’s program in technology — have earned the new Zero Energy Design Designation by the U.S. Department of Energy.

App State’s Scholars with Diverse Abilities Program (SDAP) — an inclusive college experience designed for students with intellectual disabilities — celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. It will expand to a four-year program option in fall 2023.

A year after releasing its latest climate action plan, App State is continuing to make progress toward its climate neutrality goals. Among the most notable achievements — a 16 percentage point increase in the university’s renewable energy purchases.

Beginning in fall 2024, Appalachian State University’s new Master of Science in occupational therapy program will help address a critical lack of occupational therapists in Western North Carolina.

The Appalachian Energy Summit marks its 10th year by continuing to lead the UNC System and state agencies toward a goal of $2 billion in avoided energy costs by 2025.

App State celebrated its fifth annual Founders Day on Sept. 6 in honor of the first day of classes held at Watauga Academy in 1899. Events included a poster exhibition, panel discussion, statue dedication, ceremony and cemetery tour.

Appalachian State University has marked its best fundraising year in more than a decade. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, the university raised more than $36 million, including $31 million in cash gifts — the largest cash fundraising year in university history.